Our final authority

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a [rich] man who is twisted in his speech and is a [shortsighted] fool. Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, and he who hurries with his feet [acting impulsively and proceeding without caution or analyzing the consequences] sins (misses the mark). The foolishness of man undermines his way [ruining whatever he undertakes]; then his heart is resentful and rages against the Lord [for, being a fool, he blames the Lord instead of himself]. 

(Proverbs 19:1-3 Amplified Bible)

Integrity sometimes seems like a thing of the past. Wherever we look, we can find perfect examples of how NOT to act, can't we? The pride of some causes them to tout their riches and fame, thinking that those things really matter, while the dark secrets of others make them go 'underground' in their sin and anguish. The more the meaning of integrity is 'rewritten' by society, the more important it is for us to look to God's Word and Christ's example for our definition of it!

A lack of integrity actually leads one to act quite impulsively - even lacking all caution when it comes to even common sense at times. Moral uprightness is measured by what God says, not what man believes it to be. When we create our own standards, we will soon find that our 'standard' is frames by what 'feels good' or whatever we 'like'. A sense of 'wholeness' is frequently lacking when someone lowers or changes the standards. The original meaning of the standard is compromised, making it less and less 'stable'.

If you have ever watched someone who begins to compromise what they always believed to be true and right, you will notice there is a struggle at first, but it gives way to less and less 'conviction' over the compromise. No matter how small that compromise is at first, the frequency of the compromise will actually create a 'gap' between what once was the standard they held to and what has now become the norm by which they live. That gap gives way to 'alternatives' to the way he sees and interprets the standard, until one day the standard is completely 'rewritten'.

Guard your heart - focus on the integrity of it. The upright standards of the Lord are clear enough for any who will seek them out. His Word was given to us so that we would always have a 'reference point' by which we can measure our actions and attitudes. Whenever we discount those words, choosing rather to believe them to be 'alterable', we are headed for danger. God warned against adding to or taking away from his standards (Deuteronomy 4:2). God's Word must always remain our final authority. Just sayin!